Mediterranean cruise makeup Haul

June 8, 2022 auodho Uncategorized

You know, I really didn’t set out to haul makeup during my cruise trip but then Ms polished and inspired reminded me that makeup purchases made while on holiday do not count toward my Low-Buy, so thoughts of makeup seeped into brain while I was vacationing in the Mediterranean. I blame her. Here’s the damage:

Honestly, not too bad.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

I went to Dubrovnik to see the Walled City (which I did, and loved!) but I walked away with some makeup gems! I was so stoked to spot a DM store ideal near where the excursion bus dropped us off. I’m familiar with DM stores having checked out their stores in Germany – it’s essentially a German drugstore chain in the same vein as Canadian buyers drug Mart, British Boots, or American Walgreens. Once we were finished our walk around the sights, I demanded that we checked out the DM store before we headed back to the ship. The SO only agreed to it so that he could get a bottle of water.

Catrice absolute Eye Colour 960 Choc’Late night show Kn22,90 (Croatian Kuna) (~C$4.50)
My first Catrice item! I could not decide what to choose – I stood in front of that display for way too long – so I went with what I know best: eye shadow. I can’t wait to try this. I’m also now kicking myself for not picking up a matte one as well – I just remembered that they’re meant to be amazing.

Bourjois little round Pot blush in 54 rose Frisson Kn79,90 (~C$15.70)
I’ve had this particular shade on my wish list for ages – ever considering that I heard about it from Lisa Eldridge. Unfortunately, this shade is not sold in North America. So when I saw this at DM, I had to have it! I own a few of these Bourjois blushes and my favourites are the ones that are matte, like this one.

Bourjois express Eye-Makeup remover Kn39,90 (~C$8)
I had to double check the currency conversion when I was at the store, because this is less than half price compared to how much it costs in Canada (C$20). I was tempted to get several bottles but I limited myself to one. I love this product – it made it to my top 15 of 2015 list!

Alverde Lid-Schatten.Basis Kn14,90 (~C$3)
I gotten this purely on a whim, and I wasn’t 100% sure that it was actually an eyelid primer considering that there was absolutely no English on the packaging except for the ingredient list. “Lid-Schatten.Basis” sounds like it could be lid primer, no? turns out it is an eyelid primer, but reviews online says it’s not good. There were other things at the Alverde display that I was eyeing but I “need” an eyelid primer considering that my other ones are not cutting it ideal now. At least this wasn’t expensive, and I haven’t tried it on my eyes yet – it may surprise me.

Santorini, Greece

My SO and I both went a little nuts shopping in Santorini – me mostly getting makeup and him souvenirs. Greece is home to the brand Korres and the prices were too good to pass up (Shoppers drug Mart here does carry Korres body and skincare, ever considering that Sephora stopped carrying the brand). I actually checked out 2 different pharmacies that day.

Korres 3 pack nail polish in 31 Nude, 29 Ultra Violet and 25 Lilac 10ml each €7.90 (~C$11.70)
I received some Korres nail polishes from a pal a while back when she vacationed in Greece and they are outstanding quality. I vowed to get a lot more if I could get my hands on them and I was delighted to get this trio.

Korres crystal nail file €9.27 (~C$13.70)
Not really sure what possessed me to pick this up but I was hoping it’d be similar to my much-loved no-name brand crystal nail file that I’ve had for close to 10 years (I have a concern that I will drop and break it). and you know what? The Korres one is pretty darn similar. It’s made in the EU.

Korres Body Butter in Bergamot Pear €7 (~C$10.30)
They sell this for C$33 here!

Korres Wild rose Vitamin C active Brightening Oil €30 (~C$44)
I was so anxious about this breaking during the trip home even though I had it in my carry-on – the box got a little crushed but it’s fine. There are actual rose petals inside the oil! I just saw this at buyers drug Mart and it’s selling for C$75 plus 13% tax. I just love how tax is included in the sticker price in Europe.

Korres Black Volcanic Minerals Eyeshadow palette in earthy Bronze €16.20 (~C$24)
This usually sells for €18 but I got a discount on the makeup for some reason. I’m not complaining! On the surface of the palette, there’s a design that looks like an erupting volcano… and I’m thinking it consists of some volcanic minerals in the formula itself?

Korres blush in 18 Peach €16.15 (~C$23.80)
I wanted the shade 22 Purple (not genuinely purple but a mauvey rose) but it was sold out. The sales girl recommended this to me, saying that the Purple would have been too deep for my complexion considering that I’m not “dark” like her – I think she a lot more indicated that she was olive skinned compared to me. and the best part? I got a gwp for either getting 2 makeup products or for getting a blush – I’m not sure which – but regardless, I got a complimentary full size blush brush:

It’s not the softest brush but hey, it was free!

I also picked up this non-beauty item for myself – a beaded bracelet made of volcanic rock:

I really liked this shop (Athens Protasis), they had a lot of pretty pieces and they made a point to tell me that their jewellery were made in Greece whereas a lot of the ones in vacationer shops are imported.

Venice, Italy

Pupa Pupart palette in #03 €20.30 (~C$30)
In the Venice airport I picked up this generally due to the flight delay! I debated between this and the #05 Smokey one but I was encouraged by the Italian SA that it would be too dark for me. What is with these people, maybe I want dark? I also liked these Pupacat compacts but when I read the fine print, I saw that they’re made in Tunisia, not in Italy. I was bummed that I didn’t see any Kiko in Venice but I was in a touristy area, likely if I ventured away, I would have come across it.

I did not find a thing to get on the cruise ship itself. I really really wanted to get something from the duty-free shop onboard but I just could not find anything I really wanted (they carried Clinique, Lancome, Estee Lauder, Shiseido, OPI and lots of perfumes). I nearly gotten a 2-pack of Clinique’s drastically different Moisturizing Lotion+ in 75ml pump bottles for $40 USD but with the currency conversion, it wasn’t that much of a savings, just for the sake of buying something. Ah well, I was delighted with what I got overall. The best shopping by far was in Dubrovnik because it was so unexpected and inexpensive. I also loved the Greek pharmacies and wished I had a lot more time to linger in them (plus a bigger suitcase).

Have you tried any of the items that I picked up? What makeup gems have you gotten while on vacation? I guess whenever I go on a Low-Buy, I need to go on holiday so I can shop!

Mediterranean cruise makeup Haul

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